The PAL runs primarily on volunteer efforts, with the exception of paid referee’s, all operations are facilitated by volunteer staff.  Parents are encouraged to volunteer as coaches, organizers and score keepers. The program has 35-45 volunteer coaches each year along with dozens of volunteer score keepers.

Lil' Canes Staff

Lil Canes is a volunteer run program. A team of 3 core volunteers organize, schedule and supervise the program operation. 

The Lil Canes program introduces the younger players to organized teams at all levels of the basketball program from 5th grade through high school. Each week during the program features a volunteer team and coaching staff from the Adams travel program or from the Hoosac Valley High School Basketball teams. Both boys and girls from grade 5 through 12 participate. The featured team of the week helps organize drills, play games, give instructions, and  mentor the younger players. In all, over 80 player/coach volunteers participate from the following teams:

5-6th Grade Boys Travel Team
5-6th Grade Girls Travel Team
7-8th Grade Boys Travel Team
7-8th Grade Girls Travel  Team
Hoosac Valley High School Boys Basketball
Hoosac Valley High School Girls Basketball

House League Staff

The PAL House League division is run completely by volunteers. A core group of 8 volunteer organizers and board members operate League activities including registration, soliciting  sponsorship's, recruiting coaches, running skill assessment sessions, organizing team drafts, game scheduling, practice scheduling, setting up the gyms for game play and clean up. There are over 40 volunteer coaches and assistants within the league, and dozens of volunteer scorekeepers and referee’s. 


All adult volunteers are required to submit to a criminal offender record background check (CORI) through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Background checks are facilitated by the Adams Police Department.